l Ansar-VDP deployed at police stations
l 28 police stations come under attack
l 29 policemen killed in violence so far
l Don’t attack police stations, policemen: IGP
The authorities concerned have deployed Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) members at the police stations across the country as there are no policemen there following recent attacks, vandalism, arson and looting by miscreants.
Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) have been assigned to provide security at all police stations and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), according to a notification issued by Ansar Headquarters on Tuesday.
Ansar & VDP members will also handle traffic control nationwide, the notification said.
Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque, director general of Bangladesh Ansar & VDP, stated,“There are no police personnel in any police stations across the country, and no Armed Police Battalion (APBn) at the airports. The army chief and the air force chief directed us to deploy our forces to ensure security at police stations and the airport.”
Incidents of attacks, vandalism, arson and looting have occurred in 28 police stations, including police headquarters, across the country on Monday after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and left the country.
There have also been reports of attacks on the jails in Satkhira and Sherpur districts.
Police reported that attacks took place on the police headquarters, 13 police stations in Dhaka, and 15 police stations outside Dhaka.
However, there is no confirmed information on the casualties or the extent of losses. But at least 15 policemen were in Sirajganj while 11 in Dhaka, two in Cumilla and one in Habiganj.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Tuesday urged all its members to perform their duties with patience and strong morale with maintaining their own security.
"I am requesting all members of the police force to perform their duties with patience and strong morale, maintaining their own security. Hopefully, the situation will return to normalcy soon," he said in a video message sent to media on Tuesday afternoon.
Abdullah Al-Mamun expressed his deep shock over the killing of the police members while performing duties and conveyed deep sympathy to bereaved families.
The IGP gave assurance that they would ensure treatment for all injured police members and all-out measures will be taken for logical solution of their problems.
He urged the leaders of political parties and the anti-discrimination student movement and appeal to the countrymen to refrain from attacking police members and its establishments.
"Patriot army members have been extending continuous cooperation to ensure security of police and its establishments," the IGP said.
A police headquarters official said that around 6:30 pm on Monday, miscreants broke through the main gate of the police headquarters and carried out vandalism. Many police officers were trapped inside their offices. As the situation calmed down somewhat, they scaled the eastern wall of the headquarters to enter Nagar Bhaban and then left for their respective destinations.
Police said that miscreants set fire to Mirpur and Mohammadpur police stations in the capital Monday night. Pallabi police station was attacked and vandalised. Clashes between the police and protesters continued until 8:30 pm in Uttara East police station area. Around 4:30 pm, Bhatara police station building was set on fire.
There were also reports of attacks on Badda, Jatrabari, Wari, and Rupnagar police stations.
Miscreants encircled the Mirpur Model Police Station on Monday afternoon. Rubber bullets and teargas shells were fired from the station to disperse the protesters.
Mohammadpur police station was set on fire at night, and Bhatara police station building was set on fire around 4:30 pm, according to fire service.
Thousands of protesters surrounded Badda police station on Monday, with clashes continuing until 10:30 pm.
On Monday evening, in the face of an attack by protesters, police members fled from Paltan police station. The protesters looted the station afterwards, according to police reports.
At around 9:30 pm, miscreants entered Shah Ali police station in Mirpur and set it on fire, looting weapons.
Miscreants attacked Khilgaon police station in the evening, looting the station. Around 5 pm, protesters vandalized Adabar police station, forcing police to take shelter on the roof of another building.
Clashes and chases occurred between police and protesters at Uttara East police station, with protesters surrounding Tongi East police station as well.
An angry mob set fire to Uttara East police station, destroying important documents on Monday night. The station’s armoured vehicle APC and all seized vehicles were completely burned.
While visited Uttara East police station at around 11:00am (Tuesday), local youths were seen bringing out police-used weapons and ammunition from the burned building. Eyewitness Hasan reported that a part of the angry mob surrounded the station since Tuesday morning.
At noon, a unit of the Bangladesh Army arrived at the main gate of Uttara East police station, using baton charges to disperse the crowd and take control of the station.
A similar scene was observed at Khilkhet police station, with angry mobs setting it on fire last night, confirmed by Sub-Inspector (SI) Mofakkharul to Bangladesh Post.
While visited it was seen that Vatara police station and its surrounding areas, including the police outpost, were heavily damaged. Smoke was still seen coming from the second floor of the outpost at noon, with all vehicles, including those of the OC, set on fire.
The situation at Badda police station, located in Merul Badda, was even worse. The six-storey building was set on fire by angry mobs last night.
At around 2:00 pm, the main gate was locked, and curious onlookers were seen collecting burnt items.
Local youth Tariqul Islam reported that army members arrived in the Tuesday morning, stopped the looting, and handed over the responsibility to them. Locals are now guarding the burned building’s remaining items.
Building owner Shafiqul Ahmed stated that the second floor was completely burned, with the other floors in similar condition. The extent of the damage will be assessed when senior police officials arrive.
The main building of DMP’s Jatrabari police station and both side police outposts, along with all vehicles inside, were set on fire. None of the buildings are usable. From a burned police van outside the main gate, people are seen removing nuts and bolts.
Inside the station, locals and students were seen loading weapons and ammunition onto two pickup vans.
Coordinator Naim Hamid Pritthu stated that the weapons and ammunition will be handed over to the army camp in Postogola to prevent looting.
Daffodil University student Mahmudul Hasan Roni said students will guard the burned station building and its items as long as possible.
Wari Traffic Division and police station buildings were also set on fire Monday night. No police members were found at Wari police station at noon, but a few young men were standing at the main gate.
After the attacks, vandalism, arson, and weapon looting, all police stations and outposts in Chattogram were empty on Tuesday. The police members’ messes and residential houses are also deserted.
From 3:00pm Monday, news of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure spread, and by 10/11:00pm, at least eight police stations in the city were extensively vandalized and set on fire by miscreants. They attacked, vandalized, and set fire to these stations, looting weapons from some arsenals. During this time, police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and sound grenades at the attackers to protect state property and themselves.
CMP’s Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Abdul Mannan Miah reported at 1 PM Tuesday that at least 300 police members were injured in the attacks, with three in critical condition. He confirmed that weapons were looted from some stations but the exact number was unknown.
Regarding the almost empty police stations in the city, he said police members are traumatized by the extensive attacks, arson, and vandalism. However, he expressed hope that the situation will normalize soon.
Outside Dhaka, attacks were reported on Daudkandi Model and Titas police stations in Cumilla, Sonai Nuri and Chatkhil police stations in Noakhali, Bogura Sadar police station, Bhairab police station in Kishoreganj, and Brahmanbaria Sadar police station. Attacks also occurred at Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Headquarters and Narayanganj Police Lines.
At around 6:30 PM on Monday, angry mobs attacked Satkhira District Jail, breaking gates and locks to free most of the prisoners and looting items. The number of escaped prisoners is unknown. In the afternoon, agitated students and people vandalized and set fire to Sherpur District Jail, with all prisoners escaping and looting weapons and items from the jail.
